What does "cringe" mean?

1. (to feel embarrassed) to feel very embarrassed or awkward because of something someone else does or says. 2. (to pull away in fear) to move your body back or down because you are afraid or in pain. 3. (awkward or uncool) describing something that is very embarrassing or socially awkward.

How do you use "cringe"?

Often used with the preposition 'at'.

cringe

v. · adj.

US //ˈkɹɪndʒ// UK //kɹˈɪndʒ// cringe

1 to feel embarrassed (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to feel very embarrassed or awkward because of something someone else does or says.

to experience an internal sensation of acute embarrassment or secondhand discomfort.

Example

I cringe every time I think about the mistake I made during the presentation.

Example

She couldn't help but cringe as her father began telling his outdated jokes to her new colleagues.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'at'.
- wince
- shudder
2 to pull away in fear (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to move your body back or down because you are afraid or in pain.

to recoil or shrink back physically, typically as a reflexive response to fear, pain, or disgust.

Example

The dog would cringe whenever it heard a loud noise like thunder.

Example

The witness seemed to cringe under the prosecutor's aggressive questioning, pulling her shoulders in as if to hide.
- recoil
- flinch
- cower
- confront
- advance

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3 awkward or uncool (adj.)
C1 Advanced Slang Informal

describing something that is very embarrassing or socially awkward.

functioning as a synonym for 'cringeworthy'; used to describe content or behaviour that induces secondhand embarrassment.

Example

That old video of me dancing is so cringe I can't even watch it.

Example

The brand's attempt to use modern slang in their advertisement felt forced and incredibly cringe to the younger audience.

Teacher's tip

While traditionally a verb, this adjectival use is extremely common in internet culture and among younger speakers.
- cool
- impressive

Origin

The verb is derived from Middle English crengen (“to bend in a haughty manner; to condescend”) [and other forms], from Old English crenċan, crenċġan, crenġan (“to cause to fall or turn”), the causative of crinċġan (“to yield; to cringe; to fall; to die, perish”), from Proto-Germanic krangijaną (“to cause to fall; to cause to turn”), from Proto-Germanic kringaną, krinkaną (“to fall; to turn; to yield”) (from Proto-Indo-European grenǵʰ- (“to turn”)) + -janą (suffix forming causatives with the sense ‘to cause to do (the action of the verb)’ from strong verbs). The English word is cognate with Danish krænge (“to turn inside out, evert”), Dutch krengen (“to careen, veer”) and Dutch kring (“circle”), Scots crenge, creenge, creinge, crienge (“to cringe; to shrug”), Swedish kränga (“to careen; to heel, lurch; to toss”), and West Frisian kringe (“to pinch; to poke; to push; to insist, urge”); and is a doublet of crinkle. The noun and adjective are derived from the verb via zero derivation.